Productivity and quality of sugar beet in relation to humic acid and boron fertilization under nubaria conditions

Abstract EN

Two field Experiments were conducted at km 48 Nubaria region, Alex.

Cairo Desert Road, El- Behiera Government, Egypt, during 2016/2017 and 2017/ 2018 seasons, to study the effect of three humic acid levels and four boron fertilization rates on yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.

) cultivar monogerm (cv.

Francisco).

Treatments were arranged in a split- plot design in three replicates.

The three humic acid levels (0= water, 3 and 6 kg/fed) at the form of (humat potasium 80% K₂O) randomly assigned to the main plot.

While, the four boron rates (0, 400, 800, and 1200 g/fed) were distributed at random within the sub plot at the form of Nutribor (8% Boric acid).

Seeds were hand sown on 3^rd and 5^th October 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, respectively, in each (sub – plot), at the rate of 1 seed ball per hill on one side of the ridge at 20 cm apart.

Root yield (ton/fed), top yield(ton/fed), biological yield(ton/fed), sugar yield (ton/fed), TSS% , sucrose% , purity % , extraction % , potassium % , α-amino nitrogen % , sodium % , and white sugar % , were determined in both seasons.

The obtained results revealed that; 1).

increasing humic acid rates from zero up to 6 kg /fed increased significantly root, biological, sugar yields ton/fed, TSS% , potassium percentage and white sugar percentage during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons.

Where, the highest mean values were obtained by adding the higher level of humic acid (6 kg /fed).

On the contrary, the lowest values were given by growing sugar beet plant under control treatment (zero kg/fed humic acid).

On the other hand, increasing humic acid rates from zero up to 6 kg /fed decreased significantly extraction % , α-amino nitrogen % , sodium % , however, the lowest ones recorded with adding 6 kg/fed humic acid.

Nevertheless, under this study, the highest mean values of these traits were obtained with control (zero kg/ fed humic acid) in both seasons, 2).

increasing boron fertilization rates from zero to 400 g/fed, 800 g/fed and 1200 g/fed increased significantly the mean values of root yield, sugar yield, the total soluble solids (% ), sucrose (% ), purity (% ), extraction (% ) and white sugar (% ).

In addition, the highest mean values were recorded with application of 1200 g / fed, while the lowest mean values were obtained by growing sugar beet plant under the control treatment (zero boron= water) during the two seasons.

On the contrast, increasing boron fertilization from zero up to 1200 g/fed decreased significantly potassium% , α- amino nitrogen (% ), and sodium (% ) in sugar beet root, meanwhile the lowest mean values were recorded when applying the rate of 1200 g/fed of boron fertilization.

Whereas, the highest mean values were given under control treatment (zero g/fed) in the two seasons, 3).

and the interaction between humic acid and boron fertilization affected significantly top yield ton/fed, biological yield ton/fed, the total soluble solids % , sucrose % , purity % , α- amino nitrogen% and sodium % during both seasons and sugar yield ton/fed during the first season 2016/2017.

This showed that humic acid and boron fertilization act dependently on top yield, biological yield and sugar yield of sugar beet plant under this study.